Fishing ban initiated in three Mississippi River areas
Posted: Monday, November 28, 2005
DUBUQUE, Iowa (AP) -- State officials will initiate a fishing ban Thursday in three areas on the Mississippi River to reduce the annual mortality rate of a certain fish species.
Areas affected include Dubuque, Bellevue and Clinton. The ban will last through March 15, the Iowa Department of Natural Resources said.
Research by state fisheries biologists prompted the closure of the tailwaters at river locks and dams located in the three cities for five seasons.
Marion Conover, chief of fisheries for the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, said the intent of the closure is to reduce the annual mortality rate of the sauger species with the hopes of improving fishing during the remainder of the year.
Sauger are sharp-toothed olive-gray cylindrical fish that look similar to walleye.
Last year the rules to suspend winter fishing triggered some criticism.
Carl Hanson, who operates a popular fishing barge located below Dubuque's Lock and Dam No. 11, disputes the decision.
"It took away my winter business," he said. "I don't think they took much into consideration."
Hanson said the information fed by biologists to the Natural Resources Commission was misleading.
It is thought that the high mortality rate is related to the catch and release of thousands of small sauger.
Biologists say as the water gets colder in the winter, the fish go deeper. When they are caught and brought to the surface from those deep levels, their air bladders are sometimes damaged because of the change in pressure and many die.
Biologists say mortality has climbed to 80 to 85 percent, which is unacceptable. "Normal" mortality is 50 to 60 percent.
In January, Conover addressed the issue during an informational meeting at the University of Dubuque. More than 100 people showed up.
"There's a large faction that would rather see the season open year round or a shorter closed season," he said. "That said, there are some anglers who say it (the closure) is the right thing to do, too. Those folks have a history of fishing off the barge or doing ice fishing."
Conover believes there is an angling faction that accepts the closure, if they see improvements in the sauger and walleye populations.
The closure runs from Dec. 1 through March 15 and includes:
--From Dam No. 11 at Dubuque downstream to the railroad bridge near river mile 579.
--From Dam No. 12 at Bellevue downstream to the mouth of Mill Creek, never river mile 556
--From Dam No. 13 at Clinton downstream to the downstream end of Stamp Island near river mile 521.5.
Areas affected include Dubuque, Bellevue and Clinton. The ban will last through March 15, the Iowa Department of Natural Resources said.
Research by state fisheries biologists prompted the closure of the tailwaters at river locks and dams located in the three cities for five seasons.
Marion Conover, chief of fisheries for the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, said the intent of the closure is to reduce the annual mortality rate of the sauger species with the hopes of improving fishing during the remainder of the year.
Sauger are sharp-toothed olive-gray cylindrical fish that look similar to walleye.
Last year the rules to suspend winter fishing triggered some criticism.
Carl Hanson, who operates a popular fishing barge located below Dubuque's Lock and Dam No. 11, disputes the decision.
"It took away my winter business," he said. "I don't think they took much into consideration."
Hanson said the information fed by biologists to the Natural Resources Commission was misleading.
It is thought that the high mortality rate is related to the catch and release of thousands of small sauger.
Biologists say as the water gets colder in the winter, the fish go deeper. When they are caught and brought to the surface from those deep levels, their air bladders are sometimes damaged because of the change in pressure and many die.
Biologists say mortality has climbed to 80 to 85 percent, which is unacceptable. "Normal" mortality is 50 to 60 percent.
In January, Conover addressed the issue during an informational meeting at the University of Dubuque. More than 100 people showed up.
"There's a large faction that would rather see the season open year round or a shorter closed season," he said. "That said, there are some anglers who say it (the closure) is the right thing to do, too. Those folks have a history of fishing off the barge or doing ice fishing."
Conover believes there is an angling faction that accepts the closure, if they see improvements in the sauger and walleye populations.
The closure runs from Dec. 1 through March 15 and includes:
--From Dam No. 11 at Dubuque downstream to the railroad bridge near river mile 579.
--From Dam No. 12 at Bellevue downstream to the mouth of Mill Creek, never river mile 556
--From Dam No. 13 at Clinton downstream to the downstream end of Stamp Island near river mile 521.5.
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Bill wrote on Nov 4, 2007 7:13 PM: